Giving yourself the perfect manicure at home, free from creases, dents, and spills on your sofa, is easier said than done. But like curling your own hair, learning how to paint your nails is a skill to master — if not for convenience, then for money you can save. We’re also not just talking about a base paint job. Nail art, clean cuticles, and even sweet French (yes, they’re back) can all be executed out of a salon as long as you get the right guidance.
So we took matters into our own hands and asked each of the top nail artists for their life-changing tips. The good news: We got plenty of them. Pick up your favorite nail polish color and read on how to paint nails properly.
Clean your nails with a polish remover.
To get a great manicure at home, do as the pros do by spending as much time prepping your nails as you would polishing them. That means starting out with a good nail polish remover. Even if you don’t have nail polish on hand, you’ll still want to apply a cotton ball to each nail to remove any grease or grime that could curl your polish.
Don’t forget the top coat
Topcoats seem like a no-brainer to most people, but you’d be surprised how many people miss them. Don’t be one of those people, as topcoat is the easiest way to prevent chips. Look towards a base coat (I like Zoya Naked Manicure Glossy Seal or Essie No Chips Ahead Top Coat), and paint all the way to the tips of the nails to lock in your paint.
Find the right white
So, you want to recreate the cool white manicure you saw on Instagram. Before you pick your color, make sure the formula is thick and creamy so it’s not too thin or streaky. If you’re not sure how blurry the shadow is by looking at the bottle, take a brush and run it inside the cap.
Use Nail Polish With Perfection and Care
Before you even open the bottle of nail polish, roll it between your hands for 15–20 seconds. This will mix the nail polish without creating bubbles, which can form an uneven coat on your nails. When you take the brush out of the bottle, clean one side and swirl it along the neck. Tap a small amount of excess paint from the other side of the brush. In one smooth motion, move the brush across the center of the nail, from cuticle to tip. Then, slide it along the left and right sides. This three-line method will ensure that you get an even coat over the entire surface of your nail, without adding too much polish at once. Let each layer dry before adding the next one. Apply one or two more coats to even it out and add richness to the color, then finish with your top coat.
Allow Enough Drying Time
In addition to drying each coat before applying the other, you should allow your nails to dry completely after the last coat before continuing your day. Drying time will depend on the type of nail polish used and the number of coats applied, but usually, you will need at least 20 minutes to dry for the color to set.
